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Lindie-mod,

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Customer Question

Time Machine for my Dual 2.7 GHz PowerPC G5 running 10.5.8 has stopped working correctly. It backs up some files, but not the entire hard drive as it did reliably for several years. I have trashed the prefs file and have tried to back up to clean 500 GB hard drive via 400 Firewire (same as what worked in past). Time Machine successfully backs up some files, then stops and leaves file: 2012-12-29-154614.inProgress (date and number change depending on when attempt was made. I hope to back up existing to move to new Mac mini.

Clean, new drive -- also have the original backup, which is similar. Did not want to erase it, since it has backup material on it.

JACUSTOMER-x39rpm4x- :

the problem is the same on the older drive that worked for several years and the brand new drive.

Jesse :

Okay, just wanted to be sure.

Jesse :

So it's not giving you an error message, it's just not finishing?

JACUSTOMER-x39rpm4x- :

yes

JACUSTOMER-x39rpm4x- :

stops, and file name is XXXXX XXXXX above. key words: .inProgress. But it is not in progress, the backup has stopped, the circle/arrow is not spinning.

JACUSTOMER-x39rpm4x- :

I am able to back up some files by selecting the exclusion option in the Time Machine preferences -- but only about 4 GB, and no system, User, similar files.

Jesse :

Let's try the following:

1. Open System Preferences (located under the Apple menu in the upper left corner of your screen).2. Select the Spotlight pane, then the Privacy tab.3. Open a new Finder window (click the smiley face icon on the far left side of the Dock), and from the Go menu at the top of the screen, select Computer.4. Drag your Macintosh HD icon into the Privacy window, so it's added to the list of items (it may be the only one there).

Jesse :

5. Close System Preferences, then reopen to the same place, and remove Macintosh HD from the list.

JACUSTOMER-x39rpm4x- :

I'm at Spotlight - privacy

JACUSTOMER-x39rpm4x- :

I see no smiley face

Jesse :

It's the far left icon on the Dock, at the bottom of the screen.

JACUSTOMER-x39rpm4x- :

In the Spotlight dialog box?

Jesse :

No the Finder window is separate, it should be the far left icon on the Dock (thing bar at the bottom of your screen that shows your applications).

JACUSTOMER-x39rpm4x- :

ah, the apple square

Jesse :

Yes

JACUSTOMER-x39rpm4x- :

Ok, which Macintosh HD icon do I drag? my hard drive, or the backup HD?

Jesse :

Lets do both to be safe.

JACUSTOMER-x39rpm4x- :

done

Jesse :

Okay, now the last part is close out System Preferences, then reopen to that section and remove those from the list.

JACUSTOMER-x39rpm4x- :

My hard drive (GUS5 HD) and the backup HD (Time Machine Backups) are both in the privacy window of Spotlight (along with Roxio Coverted Items). So three items on in Spotlight Privacy box.

Jesse :

Yes, and you closed System Preferences correct?

JACUSTOMER-x39rpm4x- :

will do so

JACUSTOMER-x39rpm4x- :

closed

Jesse :

Okay, now you can reopen System Preferences, go to the same place, and remove them from the list.

JACUSTOMER-x39rpm4x- :

I removed both from the list

JACUSTOMER-x39rpm4x- :

only the Roxio item remains

Jesse :

Okay, now close System Preferences again, and try running Time Machine again.

Yes, after you drag the existing backup file to the Trash, the one that didn't finish.

JACUSTOMER-x39rpm4x- :

well, didn't do that

JACUSTOMER-x39rpm4x- :

going back

Jesse :

Okay.

JACUSTOMER-x39rpm4x- :

Trashed the .inProgress file. unmounted backup HD, turned it off then on so it remounted.

Jesse :

Great.

JACUSTOMER-x39rpm4x- :

TM is running now. It will take a while.

JACUSTOMER-x39rpm4x- :

I assume you are multi-tasking, so I will type to you when/if we get past point that TM has been hanging up.

Jesse :

Sounds good, I'll be here.

JACUSTOMER-x39rpm4x- :

It already stopped

JACUSTOMER-x39rpm4x- :

didn't get as far as it was before.

JACUSTOMER-x39rpm4x- :

Try again?

Jesse :

Let me check something first.

JACUSTOMER-x39rpm4x- :

This stopped with just 8 KB file. I have been getting to 4.04 GB before stopping.

Jesse :

Is that adding to the backup that was working, or creating a new backup folder and going in there?

JACUSTOMER-x39rpm4x- :

New backup

JACUSTOMER-x39rpm4x- :

I can trash the 8 KB and restart TM

Jesse :

Okay, and have you run Disk Verify/Repair on the external drive?

JACUSTOMER-x39rpm4x- :

Yes. That is how I set it up today. New HD, set up according to instructions for TM

JACUSTOMER-x39rpm4x- :

I can run again, if you wish

JACUSTOMER-x39rpm4x- :

advise

Jesse :

No, if you've done it before we know the drive is fine.

Jesse :

Have you restarted the computer since the issue started?

JACUSTOMER-x39rpm4x- :

Many times.

Jesse :

Okay, just checking.

JACUSTOMER-x39rpm4x- :

understood

Jesse :

Let's try restarting while holding down the Option key. Hold it down until you see a progress bar under the Apple logo, then let it start up. Once it does, remove any .inprogress files from the external drive, even if they're in the other backup folder. Try Time Machine again after you do.

JACUSTOMER-x39rpm4x- :

You want me to restart my computer holding down the Option key. That will disconnect us, how do I get back to you?

JACUSTOMER-x39rpm4x- :

bookmark this page?

Jesse :

Yes, just bookmark the page.

JACUSTOMER-x39rpm4x- :

OK, bookmarked. I will restart computer holding option now and get back to you

Jesse :

Sounds good.

JACUSTOMER-x39rpm4x- :

Gus is back to chat with Jesse

Jesse :

Great.

JACUSTOMER-x39rpm4x- :

I await your instructions.

Jesse :

Try running Time Machine and see what happens.

JACUSTOMER-x39rpm4x- :

TM is running now

JACUSTOMER-x39rpm4x- :

Stopped at the same 8 KB as before.

JACUSTOMER-x39rpm4x- :

Uggg.

Jesse :

Do you have another external hard drive anywhere?

JACUSTOMER-x39rpm4x- :

that is what I am backing up to

Jesse :

I didn't know if you had another one to test on, see if it will backup to a separate external.

JACUSTOMER-x39rpm4x- :

the one I am backing up to is sub for the one I have been backing up to successfully for several years, at least until it no longer worked.

1. Click the magnifying glass icon in the upper right of your screen, and type console.2. It should bring up the console app, then select it and click return.3. In the Console window that appears, type "backupd"4. Copy and paste the results into the window here.

JACUSTOMER-x39rpm4x- :

spotlight is indexing

JACUSTOMER-x39rpm4x- :

says it will take 5 hours

JACUSTOMER-x39rpm4x- :

although, I doubt it will take that long

JACUSTOMER-x39rpm4x- :

4 hours now

JACUSTOMER-x39rpm4x- :

3 hours

JACUSTOMER-x39rpm4x- :

I found Console on my own and typed in "backupd" -- nothing appears in window

Hi, I’m a moderator for this topic. It seems the Professional has left this conversation. This happens occasionally, and it's usually because the Professional thinks that someone else might be a better match for your question. I've been working hard to find a new Professional to assist you right away with your Mac issue, but sometimes finding the right Professional can take a little longer than expected.

I wonder whether you're OK with continuing to wait for an answer. If you are, please let me know and I will continue my search. If not, feel free to let me know and I will cancel this question for you. Thank you!

I have done more investigation and found problem may be with Norton Antivirus conflict. I plan on uninstalling Norton program to see if it fixes the issue. Whatever happens, I will contact you. If it solves the issue, you can add fix to your database; if it does not we can continue to investigate. Fair?

Customer:replied 2 years ago.

I removed Norton Antivirus. That did not solve problem. I then re-installed Mac OS 10.5.4 -- which did solve the problem, I was able to successfully run Time Machine. When I updated the OS to 10.5.8, however, Time Machine appears not to work again. I was running 10.5.8 when I first noticed the problem, so my assumption is there is problem/conflict with 10.5.8 and some other program on my machine. The vexing issue is that Time Machine worked perfectly well for years.

Customer:replied 2 years ago.

I solved the problem myself and offer solution so your experts can put in your databases. It required re-install of system. Time Machine worked fine after re-install of 10.5.4. After re-install and updating to OS X 10.5.8 I first thought the problem returned, but it proved only to be lengthy backup. Time Machine is working now, which was the problem I sought help upon. I hope you can put my input to use if someone else has this problem.

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